Entertaining is meant to be fun. It’s a chance to slow down, be with friends and family, enjoy one another’s company and hopefully eat some awesome food. Yet after the invitations, the cleaning, the shopping and the decorating, the joy of entertaining can get sucked out of the process real quick. Get back to the good stuff with a few simple party planning tricks that will impress your guests and save you some unnecessary headaches.
Don’t Reinvent the Wheel
Party planning shows have created a new standard. Just about every person picked to come on these shows claims that they are going to plan a party their guests will never forget. Then they set about spending copious amounts of money, screaming at their party planners and crying through half of their own event. Let’s get back to the basics everyone. Before you send out your first invitation, ask yourself “why am I throwing this party?” and focus on that. When something goes wrong or you don’t have it in your budget to buy something you thought you needed, remember why you wanted to have a party in the first place and then let it go. At the end of the day, the less you have to plan for, the less stressful your party will be. Cut your to-do list in half, focus on your goal and enjoy yourself!
Keep Out of the Kitchen
You could try to feed every single one of your guests yourself. Or you can ask your guests to bring something of their own to share. Now you’ll have a diverse and delicious smorgasbord. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about making sure everyone’s needs are met. People will bring what they want to eat so you know everyone will find something they can enjoy. Then you can sit back, sample each dish and send the empty dishes home with their owners to clean up themselves.
Hire Mother Nature as your Decorator
Every party can be inspired by the season. Instead of going out to the local craft store and buying tons of fake flowers and leaves, send your children out into the backyard to find their favorite gems from nature. Then you can show them off in your favorite vases, put them in a new light with some candles and let your children get to work gluing and decorating until their hearts are content. Now you have custom made decorations with a story no one else can buy.
Let the Sunshine
Finally, if you’re worried about getting the house in order in time for a party, why not avoid it all together? Invite your guests to join you outside on your porch or deck. Now everyone can dress casually, you can serve everything on paper plates and in plastic cups and everyone gets some vitamin D. Best party ever!